Clearing 490 bighas in SEZ begins

By Shiva Shankar Mishra,Bara, May 4: Following a revelation that a significant portion of land within the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Simara, Bara, has been encroached upon, authorities have initiated the process to remove the encroachments. 

According to the SEZ Authority, out of a total of 833 bighas, 490 bighas of land is currently under encroachment.

More than 600 individuals have constructed houses and temporary shelters on the encroached land, while some have also been cultivating crops. This has posed a serious challenge to the planned industrial development of the SEZ.

At present, industries are operating on 343 bighas of land, with several others under construction. However, the remaining area has gradually fallen into encroachment due to weak management and monitoring, according to the authority.

SEZ site in-charge Pappu Giri informed that preparations to clear the encroachments have already begun, with coordination underway among local authorities, the administration and security agencies. 

Notices have been issued to encroachers to dismantle their structures and refrain from further cultivation. According to sub-engineer Ajay Kumar Chaudhary, the issue dates back to the closure of the Birgunj Sugar Mill, when workers were temporarily allowed to settle on the land. Over time, this temporary arrangement expanded into a complex problem.

Chief District Officer of Bara, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, said the administration is prepared to ensure necessary security arrangements during the eviction process. He added that the SEZ area has been divided into five blocks, A, B, C, D and E, most of which, particularly the undeveloped ones, are increasingly affected by encroachment.

Meanwhile, seven shops built on public land in the main market area of Jeetpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City–2 have been rvacuated following a court order. The shops, which had been in operation for a long time, were removed by the business owners themselves on Friday. The municipality had issued multiple notices and the latest court ruling prompted implementation of the clearance process. 

The shops, located on the northern side of the road leading from the main market to the municipal hospital and around the Ram Janaki Temple, had housed businesses such as medical stores, ready-made garments and salons. The sub-metropolitan office had issued a final notice on April 29 giving three days to vacate the shops. 

After the deadline passed, a warning of confiscation of goods led traders to voluntarily clear the premises, according to Chief Administrative Officer Ramesh Subedi. Earlier, a notice had also been issued on April 9. However, the process was temporarily halted after a business owner filed a writ petition at the High Court in Birgunj. Following the dismissal of the interim order, the clearance operation resumed.